Inking apparatus.



No. 667,73l. Patented Feb. l2, |90I.

T. M. NORTH.

INKING APPARATUS.

Tn: Nanms Pneus co. Now-umu, wAsmNGTon, i: c4

No. 667,73r. Paten'fea Feb. 12,. |901.

T. M. Noam.

INKING APPARATUS.

(Applieaeion mdme. 1o, ms.) (No Model.) l 2 Sheets-Sheet 2.

@ETE

THOMAS M. NORTI-I, OF NEW YORK, N. ASSIGNOR, BY DIRECT AND MESNEASSIGNMENTS, TO ROBERT HOE AND CHARLES lV. CARPENTER, OF SAME PLACE.

ENKING APPARATUS.

SPECIFICATION forming` part of Letters Patent No. 667,731, datedFebruary 12, 1901.

Original application tiled November 13, 1897, Serial NO- 659,507.Divided and this application filed December 10,1898. Serial No.6981847..No model.)

To t/Z whom, t may concern:

Be it known that I, THOMAS M. NORTH, a subject ofthe Queen of GreatBritain and Ireland, residing at New York city, county of Kings, andState of New York, have invented certain new and useful Improvements inInking Apparatus, fully described and represented in the followingspecification and the accompanying drawings, forming a part of 1o thesame.

This invention relates to certain improvements in inking apparatus, thisapplication being a division of an application serially numbered659,507, iled November 13, 1897,

I5 which has matured into a patent, No. 629,911,

granted August l, 1899.

In printing` machines,as is well understood, when the machine isprinting the form-inking rollers usually remain continuously in zo theposition which they occupy when they are applying ink to the form, themovement of the. form-carrying bed, which is also supplied with an inking table or surface, operating to bring the form-rollers into contactwith the z5 ink-distributing surface or table and the form alternately.It is, however, desirable to so construct the mechanism for operatingthe form-rollers that it shall be possible when desired-as, forinstance, when the machine is 3o stopped or for any other reason-to movethe rollers away from this position, since if the rollers remain incontact with the bed or the ink-distributing surface for anyconsiderable length of time they would become attened. l `urther1nore, uhere the printing-surfaces employed are planographic surfaces, if therollers are allowed to remain in contact with them for any considerablelength of time they not only become flattened, as before 4o stated, butthey also produce a stain on the surface which is exceedingly difficultto remove. It is also desirable in order to cause the ink to bethoroughly distributed on the inking surfaces or table and theform-rollers to run the machine when starting up with the inkingapparatus in operation and the formrollers contacting with theink-distributing surface, but out of contact with the form.Furthermore,in many types of machines when the printing-surface isalternately brought 5o into and out of contact with the set offormrollers to receive its ink it always meets the rollers when it istraveling in the same direction, and therefore always comes in contactwith the rollers in the same order. In such machines it is desirable inorder to obtain the best 'ink distribution that the inkingrollers whichthe form first meets shall be so controlled as to supply a greateramount of ink to the form than those which it meets 6o later, for if aheavy coat of ink be applied by the first rollers it will be thoroughlyworked up and broken up by the later rollers; but if a heavy coat isapplied by the later rollers the form is liable to run out of contactwith the rollers before the ink is properly worked up.

One object of this invention is to provide improved means whereby theform-rollers of a printing-machine shall be allowed to remain for anydesired length of time in the 7o position they occupy when they areapplying ink to the form and yet may be moved away from said positionwhen the machine is stopped or for any other reason.

A further object of the invention is to provide means whereby when themachine is operating the form-rollers can be intermittently brought intocontact with the distributingsurface and held out of Contact with theform, so that the machine may be run for the pur- 8oA pose of thoroughlymixing and distributing the ink on the rollers and thedistributingsurface without applying ink to the form.

A further object of theinvention is to provide an improved means wherebya greater amount of ink is applied to those form-rollers which the formiirst meets in its movement than to the other rollers.

With these and other objects in view the invention consists in certainconstructions 9o and in certain parts, improvements, and combinations,as will be hereinafter described, and fully pointed out in the claimshereunto appended.

In the accompanying drawings, which constitute a part of this specication, and in which like characters of reference indicate the sameparts, Figure l is a diagrammatic side elevation of a part of aprinting-machine constructed in accordance with the principles of theinvention. Fig. 2 is a side View, partly in section, showing certainfeatures of construction which appear in Fig. 1, the parts being in adifferent position. Fig. 3 is a view similar to Fig. 2, but with theparts in a different position. Fig. 4L is an end view, partly insection, of a portion of the mechanism shown in Fig. 1.

In the accompanying drawings, 1 indicates the fratne of the machine, theside frame being provided with bearings in which is mounted a shaft 2.This shaft supports a rotating form-bed 3, which is supplied with aprintingsurface 4 and an ink-distributing surface 5.

It may be here remarked that while the invention is shown as applied toa printing-machine the bed of which is a rotating cylinder it is notconfined to machines of this class; but in many of its features it isequally'applicable to other forms of machines-such, for instance, asthose in which the form-carrying beds are fiat and reciprocate.

The means for rotating the form-carrying bed may be of any of thewell-known types and are here omitted in the interest of clearness, theinvention not being directed toward or concerned with such means.

The form is inked from in king-rollers which are preferably arranged intwo groups 6 and 7. Each of these groups of inking-rollers is mounted soas to be moved toward and away from the path of movement of the form.Any means may be employed for so mounting the hiking-rollers; but theyare preferably mounted on slides 8 and 9, these slides havinginwardly-projecting portions 10 and 11, which run in grooves 12 and 13in a standard 14, carried by the frame. In the machine shown theinking-rollers will preferably be supported at each end by slides suchas have been hereinbefore described; but as these slides and the meansfor moving them are precisely alike at both ends of the cylinder it willbe necessary to describe only one side.

Various means maybe adopted for moving the groups of form-rollers towardand away from the path of the form. Preferably, however, the shaft 2carries a cam 15, having a raised portion corresponding to theform-carrying surface of the cylinder and a depressed portioncorresponding to that part of the cylinder which is covered by theink-distributing surface or table. There is also preferably mounted onthe shaft 2 a collar 16, which is free to turn on said shaft. Thiscollar 16 is provided with a support or cam-carrying arm 17, which hasat its outer end cam-faces 18 and 19. Vhen the arm 17 is thrown intoproper position, these cam-faces 18 and 19 coact with pins 20 and 21,carried on the slides 8 and 9 and force the slides to move in theirgrooves, thus lifting the inking-rollers away from the path of the form.This position of the parts is indicated in Fig. 2, the parts beingarranged in Fig. 1 so that the cams 18 and 19 are not acting upon therollers, the slides being in their inner position and the rollerscontacting with the form and ink-distributing surfaces.

The devices just described, in connection with the means for operatingthe cam-carrying arm, which will be hereinafter described, constitu tethe preferred means for permitting the inking-rollers to remain incontact with and moving them out of the path of the form; but, as beforesuggested, other means maybe adopted.

The invention also comprehends constructions by which the form-rollersmay be intermittently moved away from the path of the form, but allowedto return to their normal position, so as to contact with the ink-table,the purpose of the construction being to al- 'low the rollers to be heldaway from the form While the machine is being run for the purpose ofinking up. Various constructions may be adopted for producing the resultreferred to. Preferably, however, the carrying arms or supports 17 areconstructed to carry two-armed levers, these levers being connected tothe said arms by means of pins 22 and 23. The two-armed lever which isheld in place by the pin 22 is provided with arms 211 25, the arm 25carrying a roller 26, which runs in contact with the cam 15, the arm 24in a certain position of the arm 17 1ying beneath the pin 20. In thesame way the two-armed levers ecured in position by the pin 23 isprovided with arms 27 and 28, the arm 27 carrying a roller 29, whichruns in contact with the cam 15, and the arm 28 operating in connectionwith the stud 21. It will be seen that when the arm 17 is properlymanipulated to bring the arms 24 and 28 beneath the pins 20 and 21,which position of the parts is shown in Fig. 3, each rotation of the cam15 will cause its raised portion to act on these levers and they will berocked and will force the slides 8 and 9 outward, thus moving theforni-rollers away from the path of the form. As soon as the rolls 2629, carried by the arms 25 27, pass from the high onto the low part ofthe cam, which will be at the time when the form-carrying surface haspassed the rollers and the rollers are opposite the ink-distributingsurface, the movement of the two-armed levers will be such as to permitthe slides to move inward, thus bringing the inking-rollers into contactwith the ink-distributing surface. When, however, the arm 17 ispositioned so that the arms 24 28 are not beneath the pins 2O 2l, thesaid arms will be rocked idly by the cam, effecting no movement of theslides.

Various means may be provided for moving the arms 17. Preferably,however, the collars 16 will have connected to them arms 30, providedwith segment-racks 31. These segment-racks 31 mesh with segments 32,mounted on a shaft 33, which extends across the machine and isprovidedwith a handle 34 or other manipulating device, which is locatedso as to be conveniently accessible to the pressman.

The groups of inking-rollers may be supplied with ink in various ways.Preferably, however, there is provided a distributing-roll 34, whichreceives its ink from a fountain 35 by means of a ductor 36, and thisductor is mounted on arms on a shaft 37, said shaft being provided withan arm 38,`which is counected to a rod 39. The rod 39 is forked at itslower end and carries a roller 40, which operates in connection with acam 4l, which is mounted on a cam-shaft 42, the fork of the rod 39 beingarranged to straddle said shaft.

It is desirable in order to obtain the nest distribution of the ink toarrange the inkiug apparatus so that the group of form-rollers 6 whichthe form first meets in its rotation is given a more liberal supply ofink than is given to the set of form-rollers 7. This result may beaccomplished in various ways. Preferably, however, there is provided atranferring-roll 43, which is mounted in bearings 44, said roll beingarranged to be constantly in contact with the distributing-roll 34 andwith the group of form-rollers 6. The distributingroll therefore willact to continuously deliver ink to lthe set of rollers 6.

Various means may be resorted to by which to control the delivery of theink so that a less amount shall pass to the group of rolls 7 than passesto the group 6. In the preferred construction, however, atransferring-roll 45 is mounted in a bearing 46, secured to a rockingarm 47, mounted on a shaft 48 of the distributing-roll. The rocking arm47 is provided with a rack 49, which meshes with a segment 50, carriedon the rock-shaft 37, which operates the ductor-roll. As the ductorrollis operated through the means before described the transferrer 45 willbe intermittently lifted out of and forced into contact with the groupof rolls 7 and will therefore carry less ink to this group of rolls thanthe transferrer 43 carries to the group of rolls 6, with which it iscontinuously in contact. The roll 45 is preferably arranged so as to becontinuously in Contact with the distributer 34. \Vhen, therefore, itisnot actingto transfer ink to the group of rolls 7, it will operate toassist in breaking up and mixing the ink on the distributer. AIt isbelieved that the operation of the device will be clear from thedescription before given, and a detailed statement thereof is thereforeregarded as unnecessary.

As has been indicated in the specification, wide changes may be made inthe mechanical details by which this invention is carried into effect.The invention is not, therefore, to be limited to the particularmechanical devices shown and described, but is to be regarded aseomprehending all suoli changes as are within the spirit and scope ofthe invention as itis defined in the claims hereto appended.

Vhat is claimed is l. In a printing-machine, the combination with arotating bed carrying a printing-surface and a distributing-surface, ofa set of form-rollers, a cam rotating with the bed, devices intermediatethe cam and the form-rollers and mounted independent of the rollershaftswhereby the cam is caused to move the rollers out of Contact with the-form and into con tact with the distribnt ing-surface and means wherebysaid devices are rendered operative, substantially as described.

2. In a printing-machine, the combination with a rotating bed, of aseries of form-rollers, a @am rotating with the bed, devicesintermediate the cam and the form-rollers and mounted independently ofthe roller-shafts, whereby the cam is caused to raise the formrollersaway from the path ol' the form, and manually-operated means wherebysaid devices are rendered operative, substantially as described.

3. In a printing-press, the combination of the form-cylinder, with asuitable stand or frame movable with relation to the cylinder,form-inking rollers carried in the stand or frame, a cam on theform-cylinder, operating means operatedby said cam for moving the standor frame toward and away from the cylinder, and manually-operatedcontrolling means for throwing the stand-operating means into and out ofaction, substantially as set forth.

4. In a printing-press, the combination of a form -cylinder, with averticallymovable stand or frame, the inking-rollers carried in saidstand or frame, a rock-arm engaging the stand or frame for moving itvertically, a cam on the form-cylinder, and suitable operatingconnections between said cam and the rock-arm, substantially asdescribed.

5. ln a printing-press, the combination of a form-cylinder, avertically-movable stand or frame comprising movable side frames slidingin guides on the press-frame, the inkingrollers carried in saidverticallymovable stand or frame, rock-arms engaging the side frames ofthe vertically-movable stand or frame for moving the same vertically, acam on the form-cylinder, and suitable operating connections betweensaid cam and said rockarms, substantially as described.

6. In a printing-machine, the combination with a bed carryingprintingand distributing surfaces, of a set of form-rollers, a cam moving withthe bed,devices intermediate the cam and the form-rollers and mountedindependently of the roller-shafts whereby the cam is caused to move theform-rollers away from the path ot' the bed and into contact with thedistributing-surface for each movement of the bed, and means wherebysaid devices are rendered operative, substantially as described.

7. In a printing-machine, the combination with a bed carrying printingand distributing surfaces, of means for operating the bed, a set ofform-rollers, a cam moving with the bed, devices intermediate the camand the form-rollers and mounted independently of IOO IIO

the roller-shafts whereby the cam may be caused to move the form-rollersaway from the path of the form and into contact with thedistributing-surface during each movement of the bed, andmanually-operated means whereby said devices are rendered operative,substantially as described.

8. In a printing-machine, the combination with a rotating bed carryingprinting and distributing surfaces, of a set of form-rollers, a camrotating with the bed, and devices intermediate the cam and theform-rollers and mounted independently of the roller-shafts whereby thecam may be caused to move the form-rollers away from the path of theform and into contact with the distributing-surface during each rotationof the bed,and manually-operated means whereby said devices are renderedoperative, substantially as described.

9. In a printing-machine, the combination with a rotating bed, of a setof form-rollers, acam, a movable support, and means brought intoposition by the movement of the support whereby the cam is caused tomove the formrollers away from the path of the form, substantially asdescribed.

10. In a printing-machine, the combination with a bed, of a slidemounted in proximity thereto, a set of form-rollers mounted in theslide, a cam, a movable support, and means carried by the support andacted on by the cam foroperating the slide to raise the formrollers awayfrom the path of the form, substantially as described. g

1l. In a printingmachine,the combination with a rotating bed, of a slidemounted in proximity thereto,a set of form-rollers mounted in the slide,a cam mounted on the shaft of the bed, a movable support also mounted onthe shaft, and a lever carried by the support and operated by the cam toraise the slide when the support is in one position, said lever beinginoperative in another position of the support, substantially asdescribed.

12. In aprinting-machine, the combination with a rotatingr bed, of aslide mounted in proximity thereto, a set of form-rollers mounted in theslide, a cam mounted on the shaft of the bed, a movable support alsomounted on the shaft, a lever carried by the support and operated by thecam to raise the slide when the support is in one position, said leverbeing inoperative in another position, and manually-operated meansforcontrolling the position of the support, substantially as described.

13. The combination with a rotating bed, of a slide mounted in proximitythereto, a set of form-rollers mounted in the slide, a movable support,a cam mounted on the shaft of the bed, a two-armed lever having one armresting upon the cam, the other arm in one position of the supportacting to move the slide and inoperative in another position of thesupport, and means for moving the support, substantially as described.

14. In a printing-machine, the combination with a bed carrying printingand distributing surfaces, of a set of form-rollers, a cam, meanswhereby the cam operates to intermittently move the form-rollers awayfrom the path of the printing-surface and permits them to move intocontact with the distributing-surface foreach movement of the bed, meansindependent of the cam for holding the rollers out of contact with saidsurfaces and means whereby said holding means may be rendered operativeor inoperative, substantially as de scribed.

15. In a printing-machine, the combination with a bed and means foroperating it, of a set of form-rollers, a cam, a movable support, meanscarried by the support whereby the cam is caused to move theform-rollers toward and away from the path of the form foreach movementof the bed, and means also carried by the support for holding theform-rollers continuously away :from the path of the form, substantiallyas described.

16. The combination with a rotating bed, of a cam rotating with the bed,a hand-lever, and devices controlled by the lever whereby the cam may becaused to lift the form-rollers away from the path of the form duringeach rotation of the form, or the form-rollers continuously held awayfrom the path of the form, substantially as described.

17. In a printing-machine, the combination with a rotating bed, of a setof formrollers actingin conjunction therewith,a cam mounted on the shaftof the bed, a moving support, devices carried by the support which inone position of the support cause the cam to raise the formrollers awayfrom the form during each rotation of the bed, and means also car* riedby the support and acting in another position of the support to hold theformrollers continuously away from the path of the form, substantiallyas described.

18. In a printing-machine, the combination with a rotating bed, of a setof form-rollers acting in conjunction therewith,a cam mounted on theshaft of the bed, a moving support, devices carried by the support whichin one position of the support cause the cam to raise the form-rollersaway from the form duringr each rotation of the bed, means also carriedby the support and acting in another position of the support to hold theform-rollers continuously away from the path of the form, and 1n anually-operatcd means for controlling the position of the support,substantially as described.

19. In a printing-machine, the combination 'with a rotatingform-carrying cylinder, of a cam, a set of form-rollers, a support,means controlled by the support and operating in one position of thesupport to hold the formrollers continuously away from the cylinder andin another position of the support to permit the form-rollers to becontinuously in contact with the cylinder, devices carried by thesupport and operating in connection with the IOO IIO

cam in a third position ofthe support to cause the form-rollers to bemoved away from the cylinder once during each rotation of the cylinder,and means for moving the support, substantially described.

20. In a printing-machine, the combination with a rotating`form-carrying cylinder, of a cam, a set of'form-rollers, a support,means controlled by the support and operating in one position of thesupport to hold the formrollers continuously away from the cylinder andin another position of the support to permit the form-rollers to becontinuouslyin contact with the cylinder, devices carried by the supportand operating in connection with the cam in a third position of thesupport to cause the form-rollers to be moved away from the cylinderonce during each rotation of the cylinder, and manually-operated meansfor controlling the position of the support, substantially as described.

2l. In a printing-machine, the combination with a rotating form-carrier,of two groups of form-rollers, a source of ink-supply, means forconstantly supplying ink to that group of form-rollers which the formirst meets in its rotation, and intermitrently-operating means forsupplying` ink to the second group of formrollers, substantially asdescribed.

22. The combination with two groups of inki iig-rollers, of a movingform which always comes in Contact with the groups of inkingrollers inthe same order, means for continuously supplying ink to the group whichthe form rst meets, and means for intermittently supplying ink to theother group, substantially as described.

2S. In an inking apparatus, the combination with two groups ofform-rollers, of a distributing-roller, means whereby thedistribnting-roller supplies ink continuously to one group ofform-rollers, and intermittently-operating m eans whereby thedistributing-roller supplies ink to the other group of form-rollers,substantially as described.

24. In an inking apparatus, the combination with two groups ot'form-rollers, of adistributer, a transferring-roll continuouslyconnecting the distributer and one set ot' formrollers, and a secondtransferring-roll intermittently connecting the distributer and theother set of form-rollers, substantially as described.

25. In an inking apparatus, the combination with two groups ofform-rollers, of a distributing-roll, an ink-fountain, a ductor fortransferring ink from the ink-fountain to the distribu ting-roll, atransferring-roll operating to continuously connect thedistributing-roll and one set of form-rollers, a secondtransferring-roll, and means operated by themovement of the ductorwhereby the second transferring-roll acts to intermittently connect thedistributing-roll and the other` set of formrollers, substantially asdescribed.

26. In an inking apparatus, the combination with a distributing-roll, oftwo groups of form-rollers, means whereby the ink is continuouslysupplied from the distributing-roll to one group of form-rollers, and aroll continuously in contact with the distributing-roll andintermittently operating to transfer ink to the second group ofform-rollers, substantially as described.

27. In an inking apparatus, the combination with a distributing-roll, ofan ink-fountain, a ductor for transferring ink from the fountain to thedistributing-roll, a group of form-rollers, means whereby thedistributingroll supplies ink continuously to said group ofform-rollers, a second group .of form-rollers, apair of rock-arms, aroll carried by said arms and intermittently operating to connect thedistributing-roll and the second group of form-rollers, and meanswhereby the arms are rocked from the shaft of the ductor-roll,substantially as described.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand in the presence of twosubscribing witnesses.

THOMAS M. NORTH.

Witnesses:

T. F. KEHoE, J oHN A. GRAVES.

